Seals notch a club-record 22 hits in a 12-4 victory

July 12, 2009 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Victoria Seals News Release


Victoria, BC - Looking to end a three-game losing skid after a tough loss at Telus Field last night, the Victoria Seals squared off against the Edmonton Capitals in game two Saturday. With the Caps turning to Trevor Caughey (1-1) for the start, the Seals made a late change and responded with Roberto Sotolongo (1-1) on the mound.

With a scoreless first frame in the books, Victoria jumped into the lead in the top of the second frame when a walk to Terry Mermer set up back-to-back singles from Chris Van Rossum and Bret LeVier to load the bases. Sergio Pedroza then picked up his second hit early in the game to score a pair and put the visitors out front 2-0 through two innings.

Extending their advantage in the top of the third, a lead-off single from Josh Arhart would cross home plate on an RBI double from Carlos Duncan. Then Brett Flowers got into the act, taking the next pitch down the third base line to put the Seals up by four. Still without an out in the frame, Mermer launched his third home run in just 12 at-bats this season to lift Victoria to a 6-0 lead after three innings.

As Sotolongo cruised through the first four frames, allowing just one Edmonton base runner, Victoria would return to the offence in the fifth inning. With runners on first and third after Van Rossum was hit by a pitch and LeVier notched his second base hit, Pedroza came up with a two-out single to bring the score to 8-0 Seals. After Jamar Hill came up with an RBI base hit of his own, Josh Arhart hammered his fifth home run on the year over the left field fence, a three-run bomb to give Victoria a commanding 11-0 lead.

Responding for a pair of runs in the bottom half of the fifth, the Capitals used a single from Norm Hutchins, a double off the bat of Chad Ernsberger, and another base hit from Aaron Hornostaj to bring the score to 11-2. Adding one more on a solo home run from Jorge Cortes in the bottom of the sixth, the game headed to the eighth frame with an eighth-run Victoria advantage on the board.

After the Seals used a lead-off double from Carlos Duncan and an RBI single from Van Rossum to extend their lead to 12-3, the Caps loaded the bases with no outs against Victoria reliever Phil Sobcow in the bottom of the inning. Turning to Eduardo Baeza in a jam, the Seals were able to turn a double play and then find a groundout against Matt Ceriani, allowing just one Edmonton base runner to score for a 12-4 score.

Coming in as a pinch hitter in the top of the ninth, Matt Kavanaugh broke Victoria's old hit record with a base knock up the middle, and Duncan then capped off a marquee night with his fourth hit of the game and the Seals 22nd of the contest. Returning to close out the Capitals in order in the bottom of the ninth, Baeza finished off an impressive game two response from the Seals, a 12-4 victory at Telus Field.

With the win, the Seals will return to Telus Field for their seventh consecutive rubber match tomorrow afternoon. The start time for game three against the Capitals is 1:00 p.m. (PT), and will be broadcast online at www.victoriaseals.ca.

Victoria then returns home following the 2009 Golden Baseball League All-Star Game to play host to Edmonton next Thursday night. Brought to you by Thrifty Foods and the Mustard Seed, the series opener against the Capitals marks Christmas in July at Royal Athletic Park, in support of the capitals region's largest food bank. Get your tickets online now at www.selectyourtickets.com, or by phone at (250) 220-7777.



Golden Baseball League Stories from July 12, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central